This summer, we’re thrilled to welcome five interns who will be working with WBI!
Thanks to our partnership with Smith College, over the next several weeks these talented women will be diving into research projects centred around diversity, equity and inclusion in the LEGO community.
We’ve asked them to share a bit about themselves.
If you have any ideas or suggestions around research topics, let us know!
Emily
Hi everyone! I’m a 2029 graduate of Smith College with a double major in Quantitative Economics & Statistical and Data Sciences. From a young age, I found that I loved to work on puzzles or anything that involved pieces. I would (and still do!) spend hours sitting in the same spot searching and building until I reached the finished product. This led me to collect countless jigsaw puzzles, Legos, and word search books over time. I’m currently analyzing Lego pricing and availability between countries as well as comparing the color and diversity representation between Friends and City sets! I’m so excited to share everything I find!
Kate
Hi, I’m Kate! I am a junior at Smith College studying data science and English. A few of my hobbies are reading, working out, and Formula 1. I also love LEGO, and I recently finished building the Mclaren Technic F1 car.
Katrina
Hi, my name is Katrina! I’m a rising senior majoring in Mathematics and Sociology, and I’m so excited to join WBI this summer as a Data Science Intern. This summer, I’ll be digging into cultural representation in LEGO collections and exploring how data can help us better understand inclusion, identity, and storytelling through play. I’m really looking forward to learning from the WBI team and contributing to its mission of making the LEGO community more inclusive and welcoming.
Leah
I am a Junior attending Smith College with a double major in Computer Science and Statistics & Data Sciences. I spent my life treating LEGO as an art form to be admired rather than played with from a young age, constantly buying more shelving in order to buy more LEGO. A lifelong love of LEGO led me to this internship as well as a drive to correct the inequalities of the world. I have currently written four articles which topics include familial representation within LEGO sets, crime within LEGO City, police representation in adults versus child sets, and LEGO City vehicle sets. I am interested in diving into the differences between City and Friends as well as how LEGO chooses to represent people!
Zoe
I’m a sophomore at Smith College and still figuring out my major. I love art, theatre, languages and literature. I grew up playing with Legos, building oddly shaped houses with enough beds for everyone. The stories and worlds in my head came to life through those colourful bricks. I used to watch the original LEGO Friends TV show, so it’s been fun researching the characters over the years and how they have changed.
Please join us in welcoming these women to the LEGO community!!!